I. to enterExport agentWhat is the company's main source of profit?

As a "professional steward" of the international supply chain, the profit models of agency companies mainly include:

• Basic Service Costs: Usually charged at 0.8%-3% of the goods value (2025 market quotation), the specific ratio fluctuates according to the commodity HS code, trading country and business complexity
• : Some companies charge 10-20% of tax rebate amount as service fee:
  • Trade financing interest margin (annualized interest rate difference is approximately 3-8 percentage points)
  • Logistics Solution Design Fee (average RMB 500-3000 per order)
  • Customs Pre-classification Service (charge: 200-800 yuan per item)
• Volume rebate: Sign annual contracts with shipping companies/airlines to obtain freight rate discounts, and convert part of the difference into profits

2. Is there an industry standard for agency service fees?

At present, there is no unified charging standard in China, but leading enterprises generally follow the following pricing logic:

• The ladder fee.: For a single shipment with a value 2,000,000, it can be negotiated down to 0.8%.
• Risk factor premium:
  • Controlled commodities (such as medical devices) are subject to an additional 0.5% charge.
  • Orders to war-torn areas are subject to a 1% surcharge.
• Special Service Surcharge: For example, an additional fee of RMB 500 per copy will be charged for expedited processing of Certificate of Origin (with certificate issuance within 24 hours).

III. What hidden charges do newbies most easily overlook?

According to the agency dispute cases accepted by the General Administration of Customs in 2024, special attention should be paid to:

• Port滯港操作費 is translated as "Demurrage Operation Fee" or more commonly, the standard term in logistics is "Demurrage Charges" (referring to fees incurred due to delayed cargo pick-up/delivery at the port). However, if emphasizing "操作" (operation), it can be "Port Demurrage Handling Fee". The most widely accepted professional term in international logistics is: Demurrage Charges.: If the container is not picked up within 3 working days after arrival at the port, an additional fee of RMB 200-800 will be charged per day.
• Document amendment fee: The fee for amending a bill of lading due to incorrect shipping information starts at 500 yuan per amendment.
• The exchange rate trap.: Some agents adopt T+2 exchange rate settlement, with a price difference of 0.3%-0.8% from the real-time exchange rate.
• Storage overdue fees: The free period for overseas warehouses is usually 7 days, and after the expiration, it will be charged at $1/CBM per day.

Fourth, how do special trade modes affect agency fees?

In 2025, cross-border e-commerce B2B exports continued to grow, and related services showed new characteristics:

• 9710/9810 model: The service fee for regulatory code declaration increases by 300-500 yuan per ticket.
• Returned Goods Repair Business: The margin escrow collects 5%-10% of the goods value as a risk reserve fund.
• One - day tour in the bonded area:The comprehensive service fee is 0.3% higher than that of general trade, involving two customs declaration operations.

V. How to judge whether the agency's quotation is reasonable?

It is recommended to adopt the "three-comparison" verification method:

• Horizontal comparison: Obtain quotations from more than 3 agents, and pay attention to distinguishing the cost composition under different FOB/CIF terms
• Vertical disassembly: Request to provide a detailed expense statement, with focus on verifying standard items such as port miscellaneous fees, document fees, and seal fees.
• Dynamic calculation: Calculate the proportion of agency service fees to the gross profit of orders, which should generally be controlled within the range of 3%-8%

VI. What changes will there be in the charging for agency services in the future?

Based on the 2025 international trade new trends forecast:

• 40. Digital service premium: Agents providing real-time customs clearance tracking systems may charge an additional 0.2% technical service fee
• Green Tariff Service: The EU CBAM carbon tariff declaration is expected to generate an additional service fee of 1.5%-2%
• Risk Prevention and Control Value-added: Against the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the war risk agency fee for Eastern European routes has risen to 0.3% of the cargo value.

It is recommended that when enterprises choose agency services, they should not only focus on explicit costs but also evaluate the risk disposal capability of the agency company. The case in 2020 where a mask export enterprise had 2 million yuan worth of goods stranded at Pudong Airport due to the agency company's lack of emergency customs clearance capability is worth learning from. Professional agencies provide not only services but also a guarantee for trade security.